Post-Mardi Gras Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws hosts Sunday parade

Who dat say parade season is over? Who dat? Not Stroup or me or our daughter Shannon. Not Rosy or Harry or Shannon’s dog, Collin.

Gumbo, celebrity grand mascot. We’re letting the dogs out Sunday for the annual post-Mardi Gras Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws parade on the Mandeville lakefront. And, of course, the north shore’s original dog parade will feature a member of the New Orleans Saints.

Gumbo, the team’s 7-foot-tall St. Bernard mascot, will lead hundreds of costumed dogs and their people down Lakeshore Drive Sunday afternoon while hundreds more watch the parade.

“I had written to Gumbo even before the Saints made the playoffs, because I know how much the kids love him,” parade organizer Denise Gutnisky says. “Now, everyone is crazy for the Saints.”

The actual theme for this year’s parade, chosen months ago, is “Around the World with Mardi Paws,” but so many longtime parade participants have told Gutnisky they’re going with a Saints theme, she has added a new Grand Champion Prize to commemorate the Saints Super Bowl victory.

“The entry that wins for ‘Best Saints Theme’ will get $100, a black and gold poop trophy, and a gift certificate for a photo shoot,” Gutnisky says.

She is especially excited about this year’s signature commemorative collectibles.

“We’ve got some beauitufl black and gold dog poop for you to throw,” she says. “And the royalty will throw some fancy, glittery ones.”

The Stroup dogs will serve as past royalty, which is the best of all possible worlds. No curstying, no scepter-bearing, no responsibilities. Just unlimited biscuits, unlimited sniffing and a nice little walk -- a perfect way to spend the afternoon.

For the human Stroups, Mardi Paws is the closest we’ve ever come to Carnival royalty. My little dog Harry even made the cover of Living the year he was king. He never cared too much for his frou-frou black-and-pink robe, though. He’s looking forward to wearing some macho black and gold.

This year, you can get a 5 by 7 photo taken of your costumed crew for $12 and pick it up at the end of the parade. And gumbo, jambalaya, hot dogs, kettle corn and baked goods will be available to keep you from going hungry.

Back to serve as Celebrity Grand Marshal for the sixth straight year is Kriss Fairbairn of WDSU Channel 6 with her Maltese Rocket, who has been part of the parade since he was a puppy.

GRANT THERKILDSEN / TIMES-PICAYUNEPrincess and Doodle Bug ride comfortabley in their corvet as the Mystic Krewe of Mardi Paws pooch parade hits the Mandeville lakefront on Sunday March 1, 2009.

“We’ve made Kriss and Rocket a permanent part of Mardi Paws because she’s been such a great supporter of our cause,” Gutnisky says.

Fairbairn will be accompanied by her husband and son, John and Nicholas Fortunato. You know Fortunato as the spokeman for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and more recently as Steven Seagal’s co-star on the A&E series “Lawman.”

Fairbairn says her family loves being in the parade.

“The first time I was invited, it was new experience, and my husband and son and I were just taken by it,” she says. “I think it was the whole family environment. We were smitten and wanted to make it part of our tradition every year.”

The first year she was Grand Marshal was 2005, when the parade was beginning to grow.

“Then, all of a sudden it exploded,” she says. “Now, thousands show up for it. It kind of caps off the season for a lot of people.”

The parade will be Fairbarn’s first public appearance after she retires from her anchor job at Channel 6 on Friday.

“Now that the Saints have won the Super Bowl, I can retire a happy woman,” she says.Like the Stroups and everyone else who joins in the parade Sunday, the Fortunatos are proud members of the Who Dat Nation.

“Mardi Paws will be one more chance for us to celebrate the Saints’ Super Bowl win,” Gutnisky says.

And who knows? The dogs might even stand up and get crunk.

The Mardi Paws Parade, which benefits Have a Heart thru Art, St. Tammany Spay/Neuter, and Scott’s Wish, begins Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Mandeville Harbor near Jackson Avenue. Rain date is Feb. 28.

For more information, directions to get to the parade and registration forms, call 985.892.0060 or visit www.mardipaws.com. Pets can be registered Sunday beginning at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $15 per dog and no more than $45 for a whole family of dogs. Parade watchers are encouraged to bring their dogs, lawn chairs and cameras.